Chain.



I. G; HEDRIGK & V. H. UOCHRANE. CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1912.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

a 7 J'- i W 0 A? W flue/dons [5fl'edmeb and IRA Gr. HEDBIGK AND VICTOR H. COCHRA'NE,

OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CHAIN.

Specification of Letters ZPatent.

Q Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Original application filed July 31, 1911, Serial No. 641,650. Divided and this application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IRA Gr. Hnnnrox and VIo'roR H. COGHRANE, citizens of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful 1111 provements in Chains, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to chains, and more especially to a chain for suspending objects attached to its extremities and running over a guide sheave or wheel so that when either of such objects moves downward the other is moved upward, as illustrated in connection with a lift-bridge in pending application S. No. $11,650, filed July 31, 1911, of which this case is a division.

The object of the invention is to produce a strong, durable and inexpensive chain which in an extended period of service, will prove not only safer than a cable or ordinary chain but also more economical.

With this general object in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a part of a chain embodying our invention, and shows the same in operative relation to a dotted line representative of the periphery of a sheave or pulley. Fig. 2, is a plan view of 35 a section of the chain shown by Fig. 1. Fig. '1 3, is a view showing the side of apart of the chain and a section of the sheave or pulley over which the chain runs. Fig. 1, is a section on the line IVIV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is an edge view of a yoke forming a part of the chain.

Fig. 7 1s a side view of a part of a chain of modified form, and also shows in section a part of a modified form of sheave or pulley over which the chain runs.

The chain is constructed as follows:

1 indicates a set of parallel links terminating at their extremities in enlarged apertured heads in which parallel pins 2 are journaled, and said pins at each end and centrally between said heads, are cutaway to provide flattened portions 3.

1912. Serial No. 722,477.

Arranged alternately with respect to links 1 (of which only one set appears) are links 1 which terminate in enlarged apertured heads through which pins 2 extend. The links i connecting adjacent pins 2 together as explained, are four in number, the inner pair fitting against the inner sides of the enlarged heads of the adjacent links 1, and around the cylindrical portions of the pins at opposite sides of the said flattened central portions of the latter. The outer pair of each set of links 1 fit against the outer s1des of the said heads and are provided with openings 5 corresponding to the cross seotional form of the cutaway portions of the pins, and snugly receive said portions so that the pins shall bear a fixed or nonrotatable relation as regards said links, and to prevent dislocation of the outer links a from the 2 pins 2, cotter pins 6 extend through the pins outward of the said links, as shown clearly by several figures of the drawing. To cooperate with the outer pair of each set of links 1, in preventing rotation of the pins relatively thereto, yokes 7 are arranged between each inner pair of links 4:, and snugly embrace the central flattened portions of the adjacent pins 2, said yokes being provided with pins 8 fitting in holes in the '2 said inner pair of links 4. Bythis arrangement the inner pair of each set of links 4; is interlocked with adj acent pins. The interlocking of the links 1 with the pins 2, is for the purpose of-confining pivotal action to one set of links at each joint, viz. to the links 1 terminating in enlarged heads so as to reduce wear on the pins and the links to the minimum. If desired the heads of the links 1 may be protected by bushings 9, which bushing may be of such material as to not only minimize wear: an friction but also guard against rusting or seizing of the joints.

A chain of the character described possesses the requisite flexibility to properly operate on a sheave or pulley, indicated by the numeral 10, and to transmit the force set up at each joint of the chain toward the center of the sheave or pulley, in an efiicient manner, the inner edges of'the headsof the links 1 and 4:, are slightly concave at 11 and 12 respectively, peripheral surface of the sheave or p so as to accurately fit the cal pins having flat 'rotatably engaging and transmit the said force, which is radial, without undue wear of the sheave or links.

In Fig. 7, is shown an alternative construction, in which the heads of the links are circular and adapted, in passing over a sheave or pulley, to engage peripheral cavities 13 thereof.

The type of chain described. possesses certain marked advantages over a cable or the ordinary form of sprocketchain and wheel, particularly when used as a suspension sup port for two objects attached to its ends, as in what are known as lift-bridges, where one of the ends of the chain is attached to a lift span and the other end to a counter-weight, whereby less power is required to lift the span and its descent is more reliably regulated and controlled. The chain of this application is of course stronger, and less iable to injury than a cable. Lengthening of the chain due to wear at the joints, is of no material consequence as regards the con struction shown by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, as the heads of the links will properly engage the periphery of sheaves or: pulleys of l slightly difl erent diameter. The chain is the first-named linksand consisting ofzan obviously superior to an ordinary sprocket inner pair of links mounted 7 chain because the length of the links of the cent pins between the first-named links and latter must bear a fixed relation to the space an outer pair of links mounted on the exetween the teeth of the sprocket wheel. tremities of the pins and disposed outward i This chain is also more compact than an of the first-named links, means whereby the ordinary sprocket chain,.since no provision pins are secured in fixed relation to said is made to accommodate the teeth of a inner and outer pairs of links, sprocket wheel, and it is also of simpler connonrotatably engaging the pins at points struction and less weight. The pivoted pins between and carried by said inner pair of of this chain are subject to low bending molinks. ments and consequently may be of minimum 5. A chain, comprising parallel pins 31'': diameter. ranged in pairs and provided with flattened From the above description, it .will be apouter ends and flattened central portions, parent that we have produced a chain posparallel links pivotally connecting the-pins sessing the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the ob ject of the invention, and we wish it to be understood that we reserve the right to make such changes in its construction and organization as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims We claim:

1. A chainconsisting of parallel cylindrifaces at and midway between their ends, a pair of parallel links pivotally connecting adjacent pins between the flattened faces thereof, links arranged alternately with respect to the first-named links, and between and outward of the adjacent ends of the latter and engaging nonrotatably the midway and end flattened portions of the pins, and yokes secured to the links pivotally connecting the pins links between the first-named links and nonthe said central said midway flattened end portions thereof, fourlinks connecting adjacent pins of adjacent pairs of pins, two of each set of said links fittingbetween the said central portions of the pins and the said pivoted links an having connections pivotally connecting adjacent pins between the flattened faces thereof, links arranged alternately with respect to the first-named links, and between and outward of the adjacent ends of the latter and engaging non.- rotatably the midway and end flattened portions of the pins, yokes secured to the'links between the first-named links and non-rotatably engaging said midway flattened. portions of the pins, and retaining devices to prevent endwise movement of said pins.

3. A. chain, comprisingparallel pins arranged in pairs, links pivotally connecting each pair of pins, .and pairs of links bridg-' ing the spaces between adjacent pairs of pins, yokes carried by one of said pairs and nonrotatably engaging said pins at the inner sides of the first-named links, and another of said pairs fittingnonrotatably on said pins at the outer sides of the first-named 1 links.

4. A chain, comprising parallel pins arranged in pairs, parallel links. connecting each pair of pins and spaced apart, parallel between. the flattened central portions of saidpins and the. flattened end portions thereof, four links connecting adjacent pins of adjacent pairs of pins, two of each set of said links fitting between the flattened central portions of the pins and the said pivoted links, and the other two of each. set of said links fitting nonrotatably on the flattened end portions of said pins outward of said pivoted links, and yokes fitting between and secured to'the inner pair of each set of four links and nonrotatably engaging the flattened central portions ofthe adjacent pins.

6. A chain, comprising parallel pins arranged in pairs and provided with flattened outer ends and central portions, parallel portions of the pins.

2. A chain consisting of parallel cylindrical pins having fiat faces at and midway be-- tween. their ends, a pair of parallel links nonrotatably engaging said central portions, In testimony whereof we aflix our signaand the other two of each set of said links tures, in the presence of two witnesses.

fitting nonrotatably on the flattened end por- IRA G. HEDRICK. tions of the said pins outward of said piv- VICTOR H. COCHRANE. 5 oted links, and retaining devices at the ex Witnesses:

tremities of said pins outward of all of the F. H. GLIGK,

links. RILY L. Hnnnrcx.

do o! mpatent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatente. Washington, D. 0. 

